Georgina Bloomberg and Juvina
Kendall Bierer
But clearing fences more than 5-ft. tall and 6-ft. wide on a 1,200-lb. animal with its own opinions about the matter "only looks easy," Georgina Bloomberg, who is competing in Thursday's Central Park Grand Prix, tells PEOPLE. "It takes a really special horse."
It's been 12 years since there's been a major horse show in New York City, and Bloomberg, daughter of former mayor Michael Bloomberg, calls the event "a dream come true." With the help of fellow New Yorker Donald Trump (who allowed his ice rink to be converted into an equestrian arena), the Central Park Horse Show Presented by Rolex became a reality and the grand prix will air live on NBC Sports at 7 p.m. ET Thursday.
What can viewers plan to see from these animal athletes and their two-legged partners? Bloomberg gave PEOPLE an inside look at what to expect from the competitors:
1. They Know They're Good
Bloomberg's mount, an Austrian Warmblood named Juvina, is fully aware of how awesome she is. "She knows that she's good. She's had a lot of experience and she's very calm but at the same time she's competitive and she enjoys her job," says Bloomberg. "She's not a mare who wants to go sit in the field and eat grass. She loves to be in the ring and have the spotlight on her."
2. They Can Be Quirky
Juvina, who at 13 is a bit on the older side for a show jumper, likes to flip and throw her head around. "I have no idea why," says her rider. "It's just sort of her style and what she does. Some people might find it a bit distracting, but for some reason I've always gotten along better with horses that are a little feisty and have little quirks. I like a horse that makes you work for it a little bit harder."
3. They'll Pre-Game on a Baseball Field
There are plenty of logistical challenges involved in bringing four-legged world-class athletes into Manhattan's Central Park, including where to house the animals while waiting for the event to start. "The stables will be set up, I think, on a baseball field nearby," says Bloomberg. "It will be about a five-minute walk to the arena."
4. They Need Great Partners
Georgina Bloomberg and Juvina
Roland Thunholm
It takes the right blend of heart and smarts for a horse to make it to the top level of show jumping, Bloomberg says. But it's the partnership between horse and rider that's key for any equestrian success. "It really is a 50-50 effort. Throughout the years, you build up a relationship with a horse," she says." You don't just go out and buy a top horse and put a rider on it and expect great results. It's a lot of work at home and a lot of preparation, so even though it might look easy when they go into the ring, there's a lot of effort that went into it."
5. It's Not Always About the Bloodlines
A lot of the horses viewers will see in Thursday's show, like any grand prix, come from particular European show jumping bloodlines. "But a lot just come from a random combination and you wouldn't necessarily know the mother and father," says Bloomberg. "I always like that and think it's really special."
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